Starks hits the ground running in his NFL debut

~Green Bay — James Starks sported a big, white bandage on his forehead and a big, wide grin on his face Sunday afternoon.

Not only had he just suited up for his first NFL game, but he had played a key role in the Green Bay Packers’ 34-16 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field.

Said tackle Bryan Bulaga, "Starks is a good player and he's only going to improve week to week as he gets more reps."

Starks, 24, a rookie sixth-round draft pick from Buffalo, had 18 carries for 73 yards. It was a surprising workload, considering he hadn’t played since Jan. 3, 2009, in what turned out to be his final collegiate game.

He missed his senior season after undergoing shoulder surgery and started his professional career on Green Bay’s physically unable to perform list with a hamstring injury. He was activated from the PUP list Nov. 9 but was inactive the last two games.

Asked if he thought he’d get 18 carries in his NFL debut, Starks said, “I had no clue. Hey, if they give me carries, I’ll accept them with open arms.”

According to Elias, Starks’ 73 rushing yards were the most by a Packers rookie running back in his first game since Ralph Earhart had 78 at Boston on Sept. 17, 1948.

“I was just anxious to get out there and play with my teammates, play with ‘A-Rod’ (Aaron Rodgers), play for the fans here at Lambeau,” Starks said. “It was an exciting moment for me. I just took it all in. I was like an excited little kid out there.”

Whether Starks breathed some life into a struggling running game or the offensive line blocked better after a tough loss in Atlanta, the result was 136 yards on the ground for the Packers.

“We established the run today,” said receiver Greg Jennings. “I thought we ran the ball really well. We’re still not where we want to be. We’ve got a new kid on the block who is trying to step up and give us that power back.

“Our offensive line did an outstanding job opening holes for him, and he did a good job reading them.”

With Starks shouldering most of the load, starter and Packers leading rusher Brandon Jackson got just four carries and gained 13 yards. He did catch four passes for 63 yards, including 37 on a beautifully executed screen.

Starks is a big back at 6 foot 2 and 218 pounds. He might be more powerful than the 5-10, 216-pound Jackson, and he’s faster than backup John Kuhn (six carries for 13 yards).

“I don’t want to get into different styles,” Jackson said. “Starks, he did great today.”

Starks said he figured he’d be activated when he worked with special teams in practice Wednesday. But he had no idea he’d get his first carry on the Packers’ third play from scrimmage. He gained 2 yards.

“The first run, that’s why I just ran straight,” he said. “I just wanted to get hit just to see how it is, test the NFL a little bit. You’ve got to get the rust off. The first carry, I just tried to keep the ball high and tight, hit the hole and get what they gave me.”

Starks was impressive on the Packers’ clock-eating 17-play, 74-yard drive in the fourth quarter that ended with Mason Crosby’s 24-yard field goal with 3:10 left.

He carried nine times on the drive for gains of 0, 16, 1, 3, 7, 4, 1, 3 and 0. He broke two tackles on the 16-yard run and might have gained a lot more on the 7-yarder had he not been tripped up.

“I’ve got to keep my feet up,” he said. “Those opportunities don’t come often. I saw the hole, and I hit it good. The guy next to me kind of bumped me, and I was like ‘Oh, man.’ That kind of tripped me up.”

Packers coach Mike McCarthy was pleased with Starks’ debut.

“I thought he performed very well and was very impressed, particularly the way he fell forward for one or two yards on a number of his carries,” McCarthy said. “He’s off to a good start.”

His teammates were impressed, too.

“That’s a good running back,” said Donald Driver. “He showed what he could do. I just want to see more of it. He’ll get his opportunity once again next week (at Detroit).”

Said tackle Bryan Bulaga, “Starks is a good player and he’s only going to improve week to week as he gets more reps.”

Starks even got to return two second-half kicks when the 49ers kicked away from Sam Shields. He returned the first 8 yards to the Packers’ 31 and the second 17 yards to the 44.

He said he never returned kicks in college and last did it in high school.

“It’s been awhile,” he said. “The first kickoff I could have caught it and ran. I thought Sam was saying, ‘I got it, I got it,’ so I looked back and he was just waiting for me to get it. It was my fault. The second time they did it again, so I tried to capitalize on that opportunity.”

Starks seemed to relish getting hit for the first time in live action in 23 months. The bandage on his forehead covered a gash that occurred in practice recently. Otherwise, he was none the worse for wear.

“I feel good,” he said, beaming at the knot of reporters around his locker. “I feel very good.”